They don't take much space, but each night you have millions of uninvited guests in your bedroom. They're dust mites, and if you have allergies, they can mean misery. Allergydirect.com wants to spread the word on how to get rid of tiny unwanted visitors that can make your life miserable. Gavin McLachlan of Allergydirect says studies show 85 percent of allergy sufferers are allergic to dust mites.
If you are continuously exposed to house dust mites, you can become sensitive to more allergens and develop increasingly more severe allergic reactions, he adds. Dust mites are in your house year-round, unlike seasonal allergens, so that contributes to the chronic nature of symptoms.
Dr. Gerald Vanderpool, of the American Association of Certified Allergists, says to minimize your exposure to dust mites, remove dust-collecting objects such as heavy drapes and extra pillows from the bedroom. He says to use wood flooring instead of carpeting, keep humidity levels below 50 percent, wash bed linens weekly in hot water and use allergen barrier encasings on your bed.
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